Award-winning industrial designer says 3D printing changing prosthetics field forever

Scott SummitScott Summit, founder of Bespoke Innovation, which creates prosthetics using 3D technology, paid a visit to the SUNY New Paltz campus on Friday, Nov. 7, to speak on “3D Printing: Using the Body to Design for the Body.”

“Tonight’s event continues the growing visibility, excitement, and success of our 3D printing initiative from students, faculty, and the business community alike,” said President Donald P. Christian. “Similar to our 3D printing initiative’s fusion of art and technology – in both our educational curriculum and work with business partners – Scott Summit is at the forefront of what people are doing in design and advanced manufacturing.”

In his talk, Summit discussed the impact of three-dimensional scanning and printing in the world of product design. The revolutionary technology, he said, has found its way into every aspect of our lives.

“When you combine human need, technology and design, you really get somewhere. The impact that it [3D printing] has is profound,” said Summit, who noted that the technology is changing the way prosthetics are designed and produced in ways previously not possible.

“By creating a unique custom form that presents the individual, Bespoke Innovations hopes to change the way the world thinks of prostheses,” said Summit. “We believe that if you’re going to create something that will be an intimate part of someone’s body and outward expression, then that’s really the only way to do it.”

Summit, who has more than 20 years of experience and research in design and additive fabrication, has earned international design awards, including the IDSA, IDEA, Good Design, and Core77, and holds over 20 design and utility patents. In addition to design, Summit has held faculty positions at Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon, and Singularity University. He has spoken at TEDx Cambridge, the Vanguard Lecture Series, the Summit Series, Stanford’s Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders series and keynoted at Autodesk University. Summit writes for Time Compression Magazine on the arts and technology enabled by additive fabrication.

About New Paltz’s 3D Printing Initiative
Since launching the Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing Center in spring 2013, the College’s effort to fuse learning and manufacturing, science and the arts has continued to gain momentum. In February 2014, the College partnered with Brooklyn, N.Y. – based MakerBot, the leading manufacturer of desktop 3D printers, to open the nation’s first MakerBot Innovation Center at SUNY New Paltz. The 3D Printing Initiative received additional funding in fall 2014, including a $10 million NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant to help establish an Engineering Innovation Hub and $850,000 in capital funding for a new 3D Printing Laboratory. In December 2013, the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and Governor Andrew Cuomo awarded the College $1M in state economic development funds. Currently, the HVAMC is providing digital design and fabrication expertise to about 50 businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.  The Center also engages the local community and educates the public about the possibilities of 3D printing. Workshops for K-12 educators have attracted a wide variety of teachers, from art to science, who have an interest in digital design and fabrication and are utilizing these new technologies in their classrooms.